Interesting, my top light works just fine. When I first fired the car up after the cluster was in, it definitely seemed to be "thinking" for a while, and then all the lights lit up, went out, and lit up again. Upon removing the key and re-inserting, all my idiot lights work just fine.

Also, very interesting to hear that your fuel gauge seems accurate. Have you run it down near E yet?

Patrick

Your top light works?!?!?!?!?!

Ok, now I'm jealous. When I installed mine, it never went through a "thinking" stage. It just worked like it does now ever since I hooked the battery back up. I wonder if both the donor and recipient vehicles being the same model year has anything to do with it? Do you get a top open OBC display when you operate your top, or do you just get the idiot light? I'm wondering if there is an OBC display when the top is operated? Can you shoot a pic?

I haven't run mine down near E yet. I'm only down to 1/2 tank, but the reading vs mileage driven are exactly what my old cluster would've read. I know how many miles I was averaging per tank before swap, so I'm keeping a close eye on it for now until I can verify everything.

Jeff

Jeff-

I dont get an OBC graphical when the top operates, but I do get the idiot light.

As far as your fuel gauge goes, as you near E I would bring along a fuel jug with you on your drive near E just in case...... ask me how I know ;)

Patrick

Just a quick update. My oil level indicator is now working! My fuel gauge is accurate and all is well! I still don't have a top open light, but don't really miss it at all. It appears that my cluster is from a C2 afterall. I'm thinking that there must be a learning phase that the cluster goes thru after install and I was just too impatient when I first hooked it all up.

I couldn't be happier. :dance: :dance: :dance:

Thats great news! Everything works great in mine except my inaccurate fuel indication. But hey, I get a convertible top idiot light and you dont!

Patrick

Your top light doesn't work because the cluster came from a coupe, and is coded as such. If you recode it for a cab. it will work. This can be done with a PST2.
I know using the code for a 911 cab works as that is how i did my car when i updated it to the CAN bus system to run the 3.6. It may work if you code it as a boxster as well, but I haven't done it that way.

Todd

Todd,

Bill Hall (aka whall who did the swap instructions write up on rennlist.org) and I have been discussing this for some time now and we came to the same conclusion that the cluster needed to be told by a PST2/PIWIS that it was in a cab instead of a coupe. Bill has been talking with his local Porsche mechanic about this, but they have not been able to figure out the procedure.

Do you know the procedure?

Jeff

Yes I did it for my car. In the DME section go to vehicle data. Change the order type to a 996 cab (as I said you can try boxster but I know for sure that the 996 cab order code works (it is 996310 or 996311 for USA or ROW respectively)). Then go back and have the PST2 scan all the controllers. The cluster will now be coded for the cab top light. You can go to the instrument cluster now and the coding section and change any of the other coding options or just double check that they are configured the same as your car (ie with or without cruise, psm etc.)

Todd

Todd,

Bill Hall here, armed with a little knowledge....and dangerous :D . I had looked up the order type code for the Cabriolet and was literally almost out the door on my way to my dealer for a try when Thumper emailed me with your information. (As it turned out, the technician who has been helping me is on vacation until Wednesday.)

But, I've since been wondering, what unintended effects might be encountered if the order type is changed in the DME of a car that is still, after all is said and done, a Boxster? Your car, with the Carerra engine, thinks of itself a Carrera in a Boxster's body. Standby......

I just read:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14234&hl=dme

It appears that my MY03 Boxster's ME 7.8 DME is compatible with Boxsters and Carreras. So, by mapping the DME (or, remapping the instrument cluster portion) nothing will be changed to preclude the car from operating as it did before the procedure. Is this correct?

Cheers,

Bill

Okay, so what is the best, most correct part number for an 01 Boxster if I were to try this mod and buy a C2 cluster? Do I need to have it reprogramed at the dealership? Is there a certain part numebr that the C2 ends with for the covertable instead of the cab version? I still want my idiot light. ;)

There are various cluster part numbers that were put into C2 Carreras which does nothing but create confusion. There is a link in the early part of this thread for the cluster swap write up on Rennlist.org. Bill Hall did a great job on the write up and he continues to update it in order to address all of the items/issues that have arose as a part of this swap. Bill lists the part number of the cluster he used, which is a great place to start if you are looking for a cluster for a manual transmission application. The Rennlist thread also has some cluster numbers for some tiptronic clusters. The main thing is to find a cluster that you can verify is good.

There are always clusters listed on eBay, but read the listing closely to see if they will guarantee that it worked. There are a couple of salvage yards that sell clusters that are guaranteed to work, but they tend to be pricey. I have a white faced cluster for a manual transmission in my garage, but it is for a C4/TT so it's not what you would want. I have not seen any part number designation that differentiates a specific cluster for a coupe or cab. That needs to be programmed into the cluster with a PST2 or a PIWIS. Several shops other than the dealer have one. I am having RUF program mine. The other issue is mileage. I have not had the mileage reprogrammed in my cluster yet, but will need to get this done soon. I just don't see an immediate need to spend that money at this time.

Very few have taken the plunge and done this swap, so the process is still evolving, but 95% of the process has been worked out. Check with Wayne or Hans at RUF or check with the PCA Maverick folks for people that are turning their Carreras into full time track cars and have removed the stock cluster. That may be the best source of a cluster that can be verified as working. Or do what I did and take a chance on an eBay cluster. :eek:

Thanks for all you info. I'm putting this on my list of things to do/get. :cheers:

Bill,

I responded to your PM on Renntech. You are not remapping the DME for the instrument cluster coding. The instrument cluster just accesses the order type code present in the DME vehicle data section in order to know what car type it is in. In this case to look for a top light signal. On later cars with PSM it may have some bearing on PSM settings but I don't think so. I am not familiar with PSM as my car does not have it. Both the order code and trans type must be present in the DME vehicle data section before you can access the coding section of the instrument cluster to change things like wit/without AC, cruise, PSM PCM etc.

For those interested I have two good 996 instrument clusters, one that will work on pre-2001 boxsters with 19k miles (no coding problems with these), and one for 2001 and later that has 20K miles. This one also has the correct coding for the top light and is coded for AC and cruise. If you need the PSM activated I can do that as well. Contact me if you are interested.

Todd

Well, for what its worth, after several tanks through the car, I am still having my fuel inaccuracies.

Think next step is going to be to speak to the dealer about this.

Patrick

I have the same problem with mine. Did you ever get it working correctly? Did you recalibrate your fuel gauge?

You must not have a cluster out of a C2. I have put two different C2 Carrera clusters in mine and in both cases the fuel gauge is spot on. If it had only worked correctly with the first cluster, I might have considered myself lucky, but when both worked correctly, I have to assume that it's because I used the correct cluster.

One difference I did find is that the first cluster I used was from an '03 and the oil level could be checked with the engine running, while the second cluster (from an '02) requires that the engine be turned off, but the key on.

First Cluster
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...s/DSCN2292.jpg
Second Cluster
[http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...s/DSCN2344.jpg

I matched the part # on mine up with a C2 at the dealer before I installed mine, and yes, I still have inaccuracies- the cluster always reading "optimistic." I'd love to find a solution to this, Tholyoak and I have talked about trying a re-calibration, and if we do that I will report the results.

Patrick

Tholyoak and I re-flased my cluster yesterday to a C2 Cab (there's no way to tell what it was setup as before) so we'll see if that cures my fuel inaccuracies!

Patrick

Keep us posted. I was supposed to do the same last week, but stuff came out and I had to postpone. Later this week I hope...

Things are looking better. I recently refueled, we re-coded the cluster yesterday, and today while showing 3/4 tank I filled up and the car took 3.5 gallons.

I'll post more once I am able to run through a tank of fuel.

Patrick